Diaphragm valve



June 16, 1925.

H. w. PARTLOW DIAPHRAGM VALVE Fil d Jan. 25, 1924 y 2 m w l w .6 1M 7/ 1K1- i "w J mfl m z a z 4 i i ments of the installation or service; but the times the-size'of the smaller one.

Patented June 16,1925.

"PATENT OFFICE.

HOWARIZ w; PARTLOWJOF U'IICA, NEW YORK.

, Application filed January 25, 1924. Serial No. 688,556.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I,HowARn W. ianrrow,

i acitizen of the United States, residing at Utica, in the county of Oneida and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Diaphragm Valves, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates 'to diaphragm valves, and has for its object to provide a .novel construction and arrangement of the working parts of'the device, whereby more powerful and more posltive valve action is obtained than heretofore. A further object is toprovide a valve of the class, having two diaphragms 'of unequal size, wherein the smaller diaphragm "comprises the valve proper, which controls'the fluid pressure or liquid which passes through the device,

while the larger diaphragm, which is arranged to be actuated by fan independent supply of fluid pressure, exerts a greater power than the valve is capable of exerting and therefore readily and positively seats the valve. The diameters of the two diaphragmsmay be varied to suit the requirelai'ger diaphragm is usually two or three Afurther object is. to providea piston orpluriger,

which is interposed [between the two dia- Y phragms for transmitting and compounding the power of the; larger diaphragm to the valve; the said 'pistonibeing moved in the direction for closing the valve by the larger v diaphragm, and being moved in the opposite direction either by gravity,-or by the force o'f'thegas or, other medium which is controlled by the valve. And a further object is to provide means for limiting the operative movement] of the larger diaphragm for allowing the valve to dispense sufficient gas to prevent the complete extinguishment of bu'rner'betwe'en the heating periods. I

Iv attain these objects by the means set forth in thedetailed description which follows, and as illustrated by-the accompanying drawing, in which' igure 1 is a top-plan view of the com plete device. And Fi 2 is a central ver- "cease-trimaran 1 ine 2 2 ofFig. 1.

' In'the drawing, 2 represents a hollow cylindrical body, having a concentric inner cylindrical portion 2", the latter being bored out to rovide a gas passage or chamber 2 and being surrounded by an annular chamher 2'.

The chamber 2" has a lateral outlet 2, to which 'a pipe may be connected, for conducting the gas towards a burner,- or

other part (not shown). The gas may be supplied to the chamber 2 by a pipe 4:. The lower end of the body 2 is provided with an annular flange 2 and is also formed with a shallow cavity 2*. The bottom end of the inner cylinder 2 comprises the annular seat 5" for the valve proper, which consists of a flexible diaphragm 5. The body 2 is supclamped between the said flanges. Part 6 "1s bored out axially to receive the stem 7 of a piston or plunger 7 the top of which is enlarged into a discshaped head 7 of substantially the same diameter as the'seat .5. The disc 7 is disposed in the cavity 6 directly beneath the diaphragm 5, and its top face is preferably covered by a layer of felt or rubber 7 which is slightly compressible,

for producing a cushion, and therefore a 'more certain seating effect when the plunger is forced upwardly for closin the valve. When the valve is open the disc rests upon a ledge 6. The bottom of the part 6 comprisesa relatively large circular flange 6, in which is formed a shallow recess 6 and into which the-lower end of the stem' 7 projects. 8 represents, a circular base, hav- 'ing a'diameter' corresponding to the portion 6, in whose top face is'formed a recess 8,

which registers with the recess 6 and is surrounded by a flange 8*. The flanges 6 and 8 are secured together by screws 8". The base is'provided with a central opening 8", to which a pipe 10 may be'attached. The recesses 6 8 comprise acommon chamber 9', which is divided by a relatively large circular diaphragm 9, the latter being 'clamped between the flanges 6 8 'Upon the top of the diaphragm '9 isdisposed a circular metal plate or armor 9 which tends *tostiffen'the' medial portion of the diaphragm, and at" the same time affords a metallic footing for the plunger 7 The disc 9? prevents the relatively small stem 7 of the piston from puncturing or chafing and wearing-out the diaphragm, and ensures a more positive operation of the valve closing medium, which is desirable, especially when the gas is being supplied at higher than normal pressure. The diaphragm 9 like mostdiaphragms of the class is adapted to be operated for raising the piston 7 by fluid pressure, either gas, air, or liquid, which may be admitted to the recess "8 beneath the diaphragm 9, and the saiddiaphragm being of considerably larger diameter than the valve 5, exerts correspondingly greater power for. positively closing the valve. In order to ensure the free and unrestricted operation of the two diaphragms, the lower portion of the chamber ,and the upper portion of the chamber 9 are provided with similar vents 5 and 9*, for suitably ventilating said chambers and allowing the free flexing of the .diaphragms. The fluid pressure employed vtor raising the diaphragm 9 may be-.:der.ived :l ro'many suitable source (not shown), as for example, from a governing mechanism, such as is shown in my pending application, Serial N0. 67"6, -969.

When my improved diaphragm valve controls the supply of combustible gas for burners or various heaters, it is ,customary to providesv separate pilot burner, which is constantly lighted, for automatically ignit- --ing the fuel-gas, and the .said pilot; light usually derives the gas from some convenient part of the fuel supply system. In the present case, theusual pilot burner may be dispensed with, a-n'd'the functionaofthe said extra parts may be performed, in ;a :novel and convenient)manner, by the diaphragm valve and the burner, :by limiting the valve closing movements of the diaphragm 9 and the pltuiger 7. To this endil provide a number of stops consisting of screws 12, which are ad; istably applied to threaded openings l2 in the fiaiige 8 thelree ends :oi'the said stops projectingjinto therecess 13", m a manner to be engaged by .thedisc 9*, tor arresting the upward movement of the diaphragm M 9, and preventing the plunger .7 from :fully closing-the valve 5. By this arrangement, small amount v of gas may flow from the chamber 2? into chamber 2 :and thence-escape through. the

pipe v3. By the provis-ion of the plunger with itshead? of relatively small diameter, as compared with thedi-ameterof-thediaphragm 9, th pressure exerted aga-instthe valve 5 is greatlyin i excesso-f thatpf the ft'uel-gas supply, and thus ensures the positive closing of the valve, andiobviates the dang-errand extravagant :waste of the gas.

n The diaphragm :5 serves to prevent any of V the fuel-gas from passing from; the chambers -2 -.2 into the lower portion ofthe chamber 5 and thence to the atmosphere through the vent 5. T he diaphragm 9, in like manner excludes thejluid pressure from the pipe 10 from entering the cavity 6 and escaping through the vent 9*.

,the disk, said stops being adjustable .ex-

t riorl 7 of the chamber and valve means ,("dl'l'lGLl on :the upper end of the stem and normally resting onthe upper end portion of the upstanding part.

2. A diaphragm adapted to beflexed by fluid pressure, the medial portion of sa d idiapliragm protected by ;metal armour,

stops for liu iting the flexing of said diaphragm, a plunger normally resting upon said armour adapted to be actuated by the flexing of said .diaphr agm said plu-nger having a cushion-covered,disc, a ,gas receiving cylinder havin an annular seat that registers with the disc of the plunger, a concentric cylinder enclosing the first cylinder and having ayas outlet, and a flexible disc valve i-n-terposec 7 between said, seat and, said plunger disc adapted ,to'be moved towards said seat by the flexing of saidjdiaphragm.

V 3. The jcombination witha pair of ,"concentric cylinders, the inner cylinder adapted to. receive gas, the, outer cylinder adapted to discharge the gas through an outlet, the bottom end of the inner cylinder comprisiug a valve seat, a .valve comprising a relatively small diaphragm ,locatedbelow said seat, a diaphragm chamber located below said valve, a re'lativelyi large diaphragm in said chamber, means for admitting fluid pressure beneath the larger diaphragm foi raismg sa1d valve,and a piston interposechbetween said diaphragn and sa d valve, the

top of said piston comprising ;a cushion- Idiaphnagm to effect -the,positive closing of said valve.

In testimony; whereof I a ffix signature.

HOWARD W. PAnTLoW. 

